Driving mechanism for reciprocating conveyers



May 12, 1931. R. A. WALTER DRIVING'MECHANISM FOR REGIPROCATING CONVEYERS Filed July 1, 1927 Gama Q v. %%QM m a needlessly high construction of the motor Patented May 12, 1931 oFricE RAYMOND A. WALTER, on new YORK, n. Y., Ass'rsnon T0 CONVEYOR sALEs COMPANY,

OF HER? YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK DRIVING 'MECHANISM FOR RECIPROCATING CONVEYERS Application filed July 1, 1927 Serial No. 202,912.

I This invcntionre'latesiin general to conveyer motors and more particularly has reference to a driving mechanism for reciprocating conveyers.

5 Previous to this time, motors of this character embodying a mechanism for translatrotary motion into reciprocating motion for operatingreciprocating conveyers, have 5 had the motion translation mechanism assembly'set up in a vert cal plane necessitating and'restricting installation in'works having little head room such as is often encountered in mines and other industrial projects Where reciprocating conveyers find application.

The conventional crossheads operated by thdmotion translating mechanism through connecting rods have heretofore been operated in insecure guides and the downward thrust and twisting eifect of the'fconnecting rod transmitted through the crosshead to the guides has Worked to materially hamper and shorten thelife of the motors. V

The cro'ssheads in pre vious drives'have also been extremely short and pivoted to fixedlyfulcrumed driving levers'by short connecting rods to prevent sidevvise play 'and compensate for the pen'dulum shortening effect of the driving lever during Op rates. These rodsdo not effectually eliminate the pendulum strains in the driving lever and will not allow adjustment of the lever to-vary the length'of the conveyer stroke.

The driving mechanisms heretofore emlubricating systems which are so necessary to conveyer motors because of the friction unavoidably developed in all parts of the mechanism during operation.

The floors of mines and similar Workings generally present irregular surfaces for the mounting of driving engines and it has been necessary in the past to constructocon crete or masonry foundation piers to afford a secure mounting for the mechanism. I V

- An object of this invention is to provide a driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyer constructed to alford a'maximum com pactness of assembly.

Another object of this invention is to proployed have not been provided With eiiicient the internal stresses and strains developed bythe motion translating mechanism.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyor adapted to eliminate pendulum strains in the driving mechanism and afford adjustment to vary thestroke of the conveyer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyer having a lubricating system cooperating with the driving mechanism to efficiently lubricate all parts of the mechanism.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mounting for a reciprocating conveyer that may be positioned on uneven surfaces and adapt itself to the irregularities of the Wo-rln stresses or strann in the mechanism.

' Without 'ivin rise to the spirit and'scope of the appended claims.

ln'ordcr to make my invention more clearunderstooch I have shown in the accompanying' drawings means for, carrying the same into practical effect, Without limiting the improvements in their useful. applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject'of illustration. I h

In the drawings forming. a part of this pecification:

Figure 1 a top view of the driving mechanism comprising the subject matter of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the housing in section; I h

Fig. 3 is. a side elevational view ofthe "method of mounting the driving mechanism.

form of motion translating mechanism to attain compactness of assembly;

Fig. 5 is a side view showing a modified form of motion translating mechanism of a more simple arrangement of levers than that shown in Fig. 3.

Referring by numerals to the drawings wherein the same and similar elementsare designated by like symbols of reference throughout, and more particularly to Figure 1, there is shown the improved conveyor driving mechanism forming the subject ma ter of this invention. The driving mechanism comprises a casin 1, composed of any suitable metal, as shown in Figure 2, having integral supporting legs 2 and 3 on each end. A bearin g 4 is formed midway on one internal wall and a similar bearing 5 formed near the end of the wall in co-axial alignment with the bearing 4. The bearing 5 is provided with an integral shoulder 6 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

' The casing 1 comprises a body portion 6 and extended shoulder portions 7 and 8. The shoulder portion 7 is formed with an internal thickened portion 10 to add rigidity to the casing and the body portion 6 is provided with an outer integral seat 9 adapted to receive a prime mover 11, operating a driving shaft 12.

The prime mover may be an electric motor as shown, although is manifest any other suitable source of power may be substituted therefor, if so desired, or the mechanism driven by a prime mover stationed apart from the drive.

The drive shaft 12 is ournaled in one wall of the extended shoulder portion 8 in the easformed in the shoulder 6 project ing and positioned by a collar 13. A pinion 14 is keyed on the driving shaft 12 adapted to mesh with a pinion 15 keyed on a shaft 16 having one end journal d in the side of the extended shoulder portion 8 in the casing the other end journaled n a bearing ing from the bearing 5.

There is also keyed on the s. ion 17 adaptedto mesh with P a shart 16 a pinpinion 18 keyed on one end o i 19. The respective ends of the shaft 19 are journaled in a plurality of bearing supports 21 and 22 mounted on the bottom of the casing 1. A pinion 23 is keyed on the other end of the shaft'19 adapted to mesh with a pinion'24 keyed on a shaft 25. The respective ends of the shaft 25 are journaled in the bearing supports 21 and 22 in alignment with the bearings supporting the sh ft 19. A pinion 26 is also keyed on the shaft 25 adapted to mesh with a corresponding pinion 27 keyed on a shaft 28 also journaled in the bearing supports 21 and 22, in alignment with the shafts 19 and 25..

The pinion 14, cooperating. through the in- V termediate pinions constitute a series of speed reducing gears to transmit the rotary motion imparted by the drive shaft 12 to the shaft 28 at a moderated speed. A crank arm 29 is mounted on one end of the shaft 28 and adapted to rotate therewith.

One end of a connecting rod 31 is mounted on the crank arm by a crank pin 32. The other end of the connecting rod 31'is pivoted to a rocking lever 33 by a pin 34. The rock lever 33 is fulcrumed at its base by a pin 35, projecting through the side walls of the extended shoulder portion 7 of the casing .1, and

ield in position by a collar 36.

The rocking lever 33 is formed with an intermediate wall 37 adapted to position the connecting rod 31 on the pin 34. A connecting rod 38 is pivoted to the bottom of the rocking lever by a pin 39. The connecting rods 31 and 38 are pivoted on the rocking lever 33 in offset relation separated by the intermediate wall 37.

The other end of the connecting rod 38 is pivoted in a slot formed in one end of a crosshead 41 by a pin 42. The crosshead 41 is adaptedto slide in the bearings 4 and 5 formed integral with the wall of the casing 1. The crosshead 41 is provided with a central slot adapted to receive a driving lever 43 provided with a series of apertures 44. The driving lever 43 is secured to the crosshead by av pin 45 projecting through one of the holes 44. One end of the driving lever 43 reciprocates freely with the crosshead 41 and the other end is fulcrumed in a slot in the end of a sliding crosshead 46 and held by a pin 47 journaled in a bearing formed in the support 21.

The end of the crosshead 41 is provided with a central aperture adapted to receive a barrel 48 of a pump 49. The pump 49 is held in a casing 50 mounted on the side wall of the casing on the extended shoulder 8. A plunger 51 is centrally positioned in the base of the aperture in the crosshead adapted to reciprocate concomitantly therewith, and slide in and out of the barrel 48. The movement of the plunger 51 is-adapted to force lubricant by the normal action of conventional ball valves 52, through an oil line 53. The oil line 53 is provided with a series of nozzles 54 and terminated with a nozzle 55 variously positioned over the pinions and rocking lever.

The legs 2 and 3 formed integral with the bottom of the rigid casing 1 are mounted on a flexible metallic bed plate 56 and po; sitioned throughout by angles 57 or by any other suitable means, such as bolts, The bed plate is formed with upturned ends 58 and 59 to afford facility of transport and placement. The top of the casing is provided with a cover 61 fastened by any suitable means to prevent foreign material entering the drivingmechanism.

In Figure 4, the connecting rod 38 is shown pivoted on the same side of the rocking lever as the oonn'ecting rodBlv By thus moun'ting is snb'stanti'ally' the reverse 'of the' -forvv'ard tlie' -two' connecting rods in the saine- 'plane, stroke, that is, from monie ntary rest a-tthe bly may "be attaine rather than offset; amore oompact=asse1n-' beg'i-nnin g thereof, the velocity rapidly in y i creases for snbstantially"one third ofits dis- There 1s shovvn' 'in Figure 5, a modifioaltion tance offtravel' wi hen itslowl'y deoreases in of'the rocking lever-arrangement illustrated velocity'theremainder ofthebaokw'ard'stroke T in Figures 1 2;alnd 3. An arm '62 is pivcomingto mom ntaryrest-atthe endbefore oted on the'fulc'ru1npin85'iand on the pin 39 the-we innin'g' f "the successive forward With a sheave strap -63,' inounted-on an ec.-"*s troke;aftera fulhrevolution of th" rotary K-Ce'ntrid 64keyed'on-the-shaft 28. There is sol'i'rce ofpower. 'alsoniountedon the pin -'39"the'-"oonnecting a Theadvantages-residing in 1 rod 38 pivotedon the crossh'ead' ll.

theope'ration of assembly attains the""s-ame"*motion' With a' -h'e appa ent ilie material transported rn'oves more simple arrangement of levers but reforward' with' 'the' conveyer on thefo'rward *quire'sadded hei hth'inthe assembly of the -.stroke "for* substantially "'two-thirdsfof its motor Whichis' o jection'able if itsuse' is delengtli'jwherenpon the eonveyer is drawn forf siredin operations having littlehe'ad room." Wardfrom -nn'den'the material thereon for There isshownin Figure 3' the preferred! the remainder-of the forward stroke. "-On'the method-for installation aooordingto this begin-ningI f the' baCkWard stroke,the *feoninvention in 'undergronncl' mine' Workings vey rid 'a n b ck-fro uhder tlie material havinga' roofindioatedby thenuni'eral 65 and for s'ubst'antially one-third of its le'ng'thg ada floor indicated bythe numeral 66. The wanoingthesame;and' carryingthe=1naterial floor androofinworkings-ofthis character backward} with deereas'ing velocity'forthe "are "usuallyroek;although coal or other varemainderflofthe stroke.

rieties'of mineral matter form supports that- Thefcrank pi n*82 en a ing with' the 0on will usually-be 'found sufficiently firni to ne'otingrod 31 m'ou'nted 'ontherooking-lever einploythe method of anchorage forming -'thepin**34 translatesth'e rotary-motion part of this invention. The driving' inechw -=of theniotor ll intoanoscillating motion of nism iswpl'aced'on the" floor 66 and firmly the'rooking lever 33;oseillating on thvfulplugged or wedged into position and notches crn1n pi1r35 JACstherookingliwer 33 oscil' 67 out in' the" roof 65. Jack screws 68 are "latesthe -pim39"rises andfallsnarrying vvith inserted in indentations- 69 formed in the it the' oonne'cting 'r'od 38 pivotedin 'thfislot *bedplate 56 and tightenedin' thenotches 67. to the erossheaid-4l"by-the'pi1i 42. Thepin A mounting of this'character by the action 35', therocklever 33,-the pin"39,*the'-onnectotthe'flexiblebed plate allows afdistribution' i ng rodf38;and the pin-42',ionnin'efiect a of stresses and relieves the strains in the-n10 "toggle jointl L The fulorumpin-35 is *fi'rinly tor that attendtheunyielding"foundationsfastened in-theextended'shoiilder 7 formed previously employed;

' to" Figure 2.

on the-= oasing. The cros'shead 41 slides The operation of-this"inventioninay he -freely-in-"the 'guide'ibearings f'and' fiend is readily understood by first'ha'ving reference drawn back and fo-rthfiby thgv onhectin The driving-" nleohanisln is-'-"rod 38.

VWheIIthe crank 29 is in t; horizontalfposifastened to a "reciprocating 'eonveyerby a elevis 71*or'iothersuitable attaching i'neansy: ti'on; "asslioWn-in'Fig1ire 2','-the 'movement of 1 *pivotedonthe driving lever 43:by a pin 72.-- thearosshead" ll icaused by"-the rise'jofthe 45" The motion translating mechanism is operpin wyis extremely:small in' proportion to ated by the rotary'crank arrn 29=and imparts the movenient of thecrank. henthecrank reciprocating motion tothe "orossheaol 41 is rotated through l80 -the'pin"34 i's"d"r awn through the toggle joint'formedfbytheend into the extreme forwardpos'itibn, and 'the of the connecting rod 38 andthe pinl-Q. Thu piI1' 39 rea-oh'es the*high'est point. this accelerated and retarded reoiprooationneces" highestnpdint-a small progress inthem'ove- *sary'to efficient conveyer 'operat-ion is at- 'ment'ofthe orank 29 i1nparts agrea'ter movetained "in this assembly, 'By -aocelerated ment than is transinittedwwhen the crank is and retarded reciprocatlon will be underi dbh h i fit -y o itm "stood the forward and backward movement The iin'otionimparted'to the reeip roeating of aoo'nveyeraecomplishedby one revolution orosshead 41 is tran's initted" to the; shaker of a rotaryso'urce of'power. The conveyer oonveye'r tliroughthe clrivinglever l?) eon from monientary' rest 'onthe' 'beginning of-neetedto*thero'onveyeriby"theelevis 71',*pivtheiorward' strolze inoreases-slowly 1n've-r'otednbythe-pin'72.'-0ne endnfthe'dfiving locity for substantially two thirds of" i-ts lever 48,reciprooates' freely with"the "crossdistance of travel Where it"rapidly decreases"head lli the other encl-fiilcrtimsonthe'pin 47 in velocity the remainder ofthe' forwardi'pivoted to the sliding crosshead l o operating stroke roming'to momentary rest at the inthe-hearing formed fin the snpgiort 21. end thereof'before the beginning of the -back T'h' 'oonnectio'ns-"betw'een "the crosshead 41,

- Ward stro'ke,-ata half revolution of the'rodriving leveri43'and theorosshead' ldform a tary source.- of power. The-backward s stroke three-"point" suspension 5 that-"makes "th e1e- This a 'reoiprocating oonveyer in-this manner-"will V ,ments self aligning and reduces the strain on'the mechanism.

As the driving lever 43isreciprocated, the distance between the crosshead 41 andthe fulcrum pin 47 measured at right angles to the crosshead 41 constantly shortens and lengthens requiring-the crosshead 46 to be mounted so that it may freely reciprocate to I compensate for this shortening and lengthening efiect. This construction entirely eliminates the pendulum strains found 1n previous levers and affords a simple method I drawing the of adjusting the stroke of the lever by withpin 45, securing the driving lever 43 to the crosshead 41 and replacing the pin in any one of the desired connecting apertures to attain the desired length of stroke. As the pin 45 is then reinserted and as the difference betweenthe aperture 44 and the fulcrum 47 is greater or less, according to theparticular one chosen, the lever will f reciprocate through a greater or lesser disthe nozzles; 54 and 55 proj ecting from the oil tance as the distance fromithe hole 46 to the driving connection 71 is changed.

The mechanism is lubricated, byoil from line 58. :The bottom of the casing is filled witha suitable lubricant to the proper depth,

' sothat the crosshead 41 is partially subintegral end legs 2 and 3 resting on a flexible 'merged and the pump 49 may operate freely to force the oil through the line where it will be discharged through the nozzles and returned to the bottom to berecirculated.

The casing 1 is supported as previously described, as shown in Figures2 and 3, on

bed plate 56 and held, by angles 57. As the casing 1 does not rest on the bed plate 56 through its entire length but only contacts 'on the legs, a considerable space is left between the body of the casing and the bed plate, permitting the flexible bed plate to take upstresses when'the mechanism is secured in position on an .uneven surface and t relieve strains in the motor as the bed plate flexes around and over irregularitiesandpre vents stresses being imparted to the rigid frame of the casing.

:mechanism inposition. r 1 There is accompllshed by this invention a driving mechanism fora reciprocating conveyerattaining alower assembly than herev,tofore achieved having a'three point suspension drive affording aself aligning mechanism relieving strains and stresses on the mechanism,and freely lubricated in cooperation with the driving mechanism. There is further accomplished. a method of mounting, .dispensing with the foundations previously employed and rendering greater ease and security of anchorage and eliminating strains in the driving mechanisms.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A driving motor for a reciprocating conveyerv embodying a motion translating mechanism comprising a connecting rod having one end eccentrically mounted on a rotary power transmitting device and the other end pivoted to a fulcrumed rocking lever, and a connecting rod having its respective ends pivotally mounted on the fulcrumed rocking lever, in offset relation with respect to the first connecting rod, and to a reciprocating member operating in a longitudinal plane, and floatable means to drive the conveyer.

2. A driving motor for a reciprocating conve er embod in a motion translatin mechanism comprising a crank arm mounted on a rotary power transmitting device, a connecting rod having one end mounted on the crank arm and theother end pivoted to one corner of a three cornered rocking lever ful- 'crumed at one corner, and a connecting rod having its respective ends pivotally mounted on the third corner of the rocking lever in offset relation with respect to the first connecting rod and to a reciprocating crosshead car rying 'a floated member adapted to afford reverse uniformly long and short accelerated and retarded strokes of reciprocating motion, and means to drive the conveyer.

3. A driving motor for a reciprocating conveyer embodyinga housing support comprising a flexible bed plate, a casing having integral supporting legs resting on the bed plate, means to fix the casing on the bed plate and means formed 'in the housing to receive the driving motor.

4. A driving motor for a reciprocating conveyer embodying a housing comprising a flexible bed plate having upturned ends, a casing having integral end supporting legs resting on the bed plate, means to fix the casing on the bed plate, and means formed in the housing to receive the driving motor.

5. A driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyer comprising a casing, rigid integral projections formed on the bottom of the casing and means to support the casing on a flexible bed plate.

6. A driving mechanism for areciprocating conveyer comprising a rotary source of power, motion translating devices operated thereby, a crosshead driven through the motion translating devices, a driving lever pivoted on the crosshead, means to floatably anchor one end of the driving lever and means to connect the other end to the conveyer.

7. A driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyer comprising rotary source of power, motion translating devices operated thereby, a crosshead driven through the motion translating devices, a driving lever extending through and pivoted in a slot provided in the crosshead, means to floatably anchor one end of the lever, means to connect the other end to a conveyer and means to adjust the position of the lever in relation to the crosshead to vary the stroke.

8. A driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyer comprising a casing, a rotary source of power associated therewith, a crank connected through reducing gears to the rotary source of power, a crosshead driven by the crank through a fulcrumed rocking lever, a driving lever having one end floatab-ly anchored, pivoted on the crosshead, the other end being adapted to be connected to a conveyer to impart reverse uniformly long and short accelerated and retarded strokes, means provided in the casing to maintain the cross head submerged in lubricant, means operated by the crosshead to spray lubricant over the mechanism, and a flexible bed plate supporting the casing to relieve strains in the driving mechanism.

9. A driving motor for a reciprocating conveyer embodying a housing support, comprising a flexible bed plate, a casing having integral supporting legs resting on the bed plate and fixed thereto, means formed in the housing to receive the driving motor and means to anchor the bed plate on the floor of a working between the top of the bed plate and the roof of the working.

10. A driving motor for a reciprocating conveyer embodying a housing support comprising a bed plate formed with turned up ends, a casing with integral supporting lugs having a bottom portion of smaller dimensions than the bed plate resting thereon and fixed thereto, and extensible members for fitting between the top of the bed plate and the roof of a working to anchor the motor on the floor of the working.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RAYMOND A. WALTER. 

